FIFA president Sepp Blatter remained defiant in the face of criticism as even Prime Minister David Cameron attacked him over his remarks about racism.

Blatter appeared to stand by his suggestion that racism on the pitch should be settled by a handshake in an interview with Fox Soccer – despite Cameron’s criticism which followed sports minister Hugh Robertson’s call for the 75-year-old to step down.

The FIFA president also became embroiled in an amazing Twitter row with England defender Rio Ferdinand, who accused the Swiss of being “ignorant”.

Cameron said: “It’s appalling to suggest that racism in any way should be accepted as part of the game. A lot of work has gone into ridding racism from all aspects of our society, including football. As many of our top sports stars have rightly pointed out, now is not the time for complacency.”

Outside of Britain however, the controversy has barely caused a ripple – it merited a single paragraph in French sports daily L’Equipe, and was treated similarly in Spain, Italy, Germany and the United States.

In an interview with Fox Soccer, Blatter stuck to his guns and pointed out that FIFA had taken the World Cup to South Africa.

He added: “I’m not saying about discrimination, but it’s foul language, it’s a foul play.”